St George Sunday School
By Ken George
When I think back on my years attending Sunday School at St. George Orthodox Church, I think of how close other students and I became. I recall how close the families of the parish were. After all, we were all “cousins”, even though we may not have been related. We shared many commonalities that have remained with us our entire lives. Most of us were descendants of parents or grandparents who immigrated to America from Syria or Lebanon. They settled in the Indianapolis area. We shared a culture that kept our families close. Many of us were friends outside of Sunday School. Some of us went to the same schools. We rode our bicycles to one another’s homes. We grew up together. Our families and our culture helped define us. We shared the Orthodox faith that was part of our family lives and became an integral part of our daily lives. We were part of the St. George Sunday School program. Our Church website states:
The St. George Orthodox Church School serves a key role in educating the students of St. George in our catechism. We engage the very youngest (pre-School) parishioners, all the way up to the high School Seniors. Church School is actively working on becoming a whole-family program; working to engage parents in the lessons at the same time as their children. Parent participation is crucial in a partnership of providing Christian Education. Additionally, we are working to expand the education services we offer (The Relationship Project) so that we are as relevant and timely as possible.It was not always like that. Our Sunday School has evolved into a first-class religious educational ministry serving the youth of our Church. Through the work of many hard-working teachers and superintendents since the very beginning, our Sunday School has reached the level that our founding parents and grandparents envisioned. The beginning of our Sunday School can be traced back to the late 1930s. We were in our first Church which was built in 1926. For the first few years, there was no Sunday School. That was common for Antiochian Orthodox Churches at that time. There were no rooms to conduct classes in the Church building. Organized Sunday School programs of Antiochian parishes originated during the late 1930s or early 1940s. In 1935 the Knights of St. George Social Hall opened. This building was adjacent to our first Church at 2745 N. Sherman Dr. in Brightwood. The social hall was used for gatherings such as weddings, parties, receptions, etc. The social hall contained plenty of space to conduct Sunday Schools classes. It is believed that the first Sunday School classes were held in the social hall sometime between 1935-1940. Instruction was not at all at the level it is today, but it was still meaningful to the youth of St. George. Many of our earliest Sunday School students remember those days. Here are some of their memories:
“I would have been in Sunday school starting from late 40’s. I do remember John Snider was always Jesus in the Easter play because he was the tallest.”
“I only have a few things that I remember: When I was eight or nine years-old, I was Mary, Jesus’ mother, in a Christmas pageant at the old church. I do not recall who my teacher was at the time, but I did have Aunt Zemurod Corey as a Sunday School teacher. I remember as we approached Lenten season she spoke about giving something up for the 40-day fast and it had to be something you love and of course, for me, it was candy. For an eight-year old that was extremely hard, but for every year thereafter, I gave up candy for Lent.”
“I attended Sunday School in the first St. George Church at 28th and Sherman Drive along with my brothers John and Carl (Vernie). I don’t remember much except learning the Lord’s prayer and the Creed and the rest of the time I was coloring. I do remember being in the plays– Christmas and Easter. I remember that I was an angel and Jamise was an angel too and she held her arms up for a really long time. I was glad that I only had to fold my hands. I think my brother John and Nick Ferris were Jesus and the angel in the tomb that declared that Jesus rose from the dead.”
“William Kafoure, my uncle, was Superintendent, I think in the late 40’s and early 50’s. I remember under his leadership we put on some really nice Christmas and Easter plays.”
“I remember being in Bible class with Nick Ferris. We had a crew back then of Mike Corey, John Snider, Nick, and me, Steve George.”
“I remember coloring bible scenes. I was not good at staying within the lines. I also remember learning how to make the sign of the cross. Mostly, I remember getting into trouble with Mike, Charlie, Paul, and Steve Kafoure.”
“…I recall a very warm memory of Zemrod Corey. When I needed a ride to go to church Zemrod would pick me up and drive me (and other kids) t The pictures on the next page were taken in the early 1950s of our Sunday School classes.
Many hard-working parishioners volunteered their time and talents to supervise our Sunday School over the years. Below is a list of known Sunday School superintendents who volunteered to make the Sunday School a great learning environment for our children. This list is not in any order and may not be complete.
Fred Albert
Alice Mesalam
Zemorud Corey
Bill Kafoure
Norma Mesalam
Richard Mesalam
Marilyn Corey
Norma Johns & Jean Kafoure (Co-Superintendents)
Leslie Baas
Jean Olas-Gaha
Diana Najjar
Janice Fadel
Yana Dumbauld (2002-2012)
Kathy Tingwald (2013-2018)
Ann Clough (2018-2025)
Deanna Hallenbeck (2025–present)
For many years Sunday School classes were held during the beginning part of Liturgy. Many of today’s older parishioners remember that they would not go into Liturgy until it was time for Holy Communion. The students processed into the Church and went directly to Communion. Upon receiving Holy Communion, the students walked to a seat in the first few rows which were reserved for the children of Sunday School. Most of the children would sit in those rows after receiving Holy Communion until the end of Liturgy. The major drawback to this schedule was the teachers and students missed the most important parts of the Liturgy. That changed in the late 1970s or early 1980s. As is true today, the Sunday School students no longer waited until Holy Communion to attend Liturgy, but came with their parents and remained until Holy Communion. After receiving Holy Communion, the Sunday School students and teachers leave the Liturgy to begin classes. This change was met with some trepidation at first. One superintendent asked the priest at the time, “Father, how can we teach the children with just a few minutes of class?” Over time, the fear of this change subsided and the change became a very significant and positive change for our children and teachers.
The inspiration for the following poem came from observing the children process into the Church from Church School to receive Holy Communion.
Our Tomorrow
There’s a pause in the Sunday Service—Reverent
Silence—And then—
We hear the sound of children—Learners of God—
walking into Church
A prettier picture? None—wherever you may
search.
Having acknowledged the presence of His Holy
Being before entering.
They’re eager to learn more about the “Great
Story”,
His miracles and His suffering.
Proud parents and relatives glance at the aisle with
gleam in their eye.
To catch a glimpse of their loved ones as they pass
them by.
Their fervent faces add more sparkle to a
magnificently “lighted” temple.
Their good behavior and manner are indeed most
commendable.
God bless them all; Enrich them with kindness and
patience.
For they are the “Tomorrow of our Faith—The
“Today” of our existence.
written by Ruth Corey George (1971)
Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, many of our Sunday School teachers and superintendents have received a license to teach K-12 grades. Many work in a public or private school system. Having trained educators, enables the instruction to be more structured and curriculum-based. Many new learning initiatives were started. For example, The Creative Arts program began while Diana Najjar served as superintendent. This program included photography, poetry, writing, and art. Competition began within the Archdiocese. Awards were presented by the Bishop at the Parish Life Conferences. Through much hard work and determination, St. George participants brought many awards and trophies back to Indianapolis.
A curriculum written at the Archdiocese level became the standard for our Sunday School classes. This instruction is taught in a 4-year cycle where the entire Bible is read. In 2020, the classes were in year 4 when the Covid pandemic closed our services held at the Church. It became necessary to be creative in reaching our children. Under the leadership of Ann Clough, teachers created monthly learning packets. Packets were mailed to the homes of each enrollee for use by the child and his or her parents. The pandemic created an opportunity to teach about the lives of the Saints, especially those who are depicted on the walls of St. George Church. Feast days became a part of the learning materials as well. Students were sent instructions and a Holy seal for making Prosphora. With the assistance of their parents, students were able to make Prosphora at home. Koliva instructions were also sent home to the students.
The Relationship Project also emerged during the Covid pandemic. This project was initiated by Bishop Anthony and facilitated locally by Brad and Kathy Tingwald. The Junior and Senior high school students of St. George took part in a 3-part lecture series conducted on weekends. The series was designed to improve each student’s relationship with God. It was a successful project to help our older students during this time when leaving home and meeting after Liturgy was not an option.
All present and former Church School students remember the plays that were performed by our Church School. The plays allowed the students to depict the life of Christ through live performances. Many times, Christmas and Pascha stories were created by parish members, and the students performed the plays to the joy of the entire parish body. The photos below were taken at the 2008 Nativity play.
Our Sunday School curriculum has evolved through the years, especially after the pandemic. Initially, study was focused on the weekly Gospel readings. Now instruction is geared toward a more thorough study of each book of the Bible. The uniform curriculum makes it possible for all Antiochian Orthodox students to study the same parts of the Bible simultaneously.
Our Sunday Schol program has always been a meaningful experience for our youth. It is a program where our youth grow in their understanding of our Church and their relationship with God. Older parishioners look back at their Sunday School experience with fond memories of learning about Christ and of getting closer to their peers. That is also true of each generation since the beginning of our Church School.
In the beginning, we were all “cousins.” We may no longer be “cousins”, but our youth continue to grow stronger in the Orthodox Christian faith and continue to grow close with their peers through our Sunday School program.
